USDA Provides $1B Relief for 2023-24 Flood, Wildfire Livestock Losses

The USDA has announced a $1 billion Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) to assist livestock producers affected by floods and wildfires in 2023 and 2024, aimed at offsetting increased supplemental feed costs. Sign-ups for the program begin September 15 and run through October 31, with eligible producers able to receive payments based on feed cost calculations, with a combined payment limit of $125,000 per program year. Under President Trump's leadership, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the administration's commitment to supporting farmers and ranchers by delivering timely disaster relief to help maintain the food supply and sustain agricultural livelihoods. The program covers most affected counties, including regions in East Texas, Southeast Georgia, and South Carolina, with streamlined application processes in designated counties where producers are not required to submit supporting documentation. This initiative builds on the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program and reflects historic levels of assistance provided by the USDA in recent months. The funding comes from the American Relief Act passed by Congress in late 2024 to address natural disaster impacts on agriculture.